Source: Daily_Mail
Blackburn v Manchester City live
Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the Barclays Premier League where Blackburn host Manchester City in the Easter Monday clash at Ewood Park. Rovers are in the thick of a relegation fight but will find it hard to topple a City side looking to strengthen their hold on a Champions League spot. Email me your thoughts on the game at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk[LNB] Blackburn 0-0 Manchester City (8pm)Blackburn:Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Phil Jones, Givet, Emerton, Dunn (Rochina 63), Jermaine Jones, Olsson, Mwaruwari, Roberts.Subs: Bunn, Kalinic, Formica, Pedersen, Hanley, Diouf.[LNB]ManCity: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, De Jong, Barry, Adam Johnson, Toure Yaya, Silva, Balotelli.Subs: Taylor, Milner, Wright-Phillips, Dzeko, Vieira, Jo, Boyata.[LNB]Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands) [LNB]67min: Rochina's cross finds Givet but his shot is blocked before City turn it behind for another corner, which Hart comfortably claims. I can't remember the last time Robinson had any goalkeeping to do.[LNB]66min: Samba's shot is blocked by Silva for a corner and Rovers continue applying the pressure.[LNB]65min: It is all Blackburn and some neat skill from Rochina ends with him being brought down by De Jong on the corner of the penalty box. City need to freshen things up here.[LNB]63min: Here is our first change with Ruben Rochina replacing Dunn.[LNB]61min: A mixture of the good and bad times in the stadium this evening for Blackburn fans.[LNB]Brian Kidd on the Manchester City coaching staff took Rovers down into Division One in 1999.[LNB]But Kenny Dalglish is watching in the stands, and you don't have to remind too many locals it was he that led them to the 1994/95 Premier League title.[LNB]59min: Nigel de Jong can have few complaints here. Olsson beats him to a loose ball and although he doesn't catch the full-back that could have ended a bit nasty had the latter not jumped. The Dutchman is booked.[LNB]57min: That Toure chance aside, Blackburn have been the better side this half. City just can't deal with the Rovers pressure but the hosts are struggling to create chances.[LNB]54min: Two free-kicks in the City half end in disappointment for Rovers as both balls into the centre are easily cleared. Should have got Mr Robinson to take them.[LNB]53min: Balotelli is the next man booked after a pretty comical shove on Givet after he knows he has not got a chance of getting the ball.[LNB]51min: How has that not gone in?! Salgado finds Jason Roberts in space in the centre but his header is so bad from eight yards it ends up going across goal where Olsson is at full stretch to divert the ball just wide of the post. A bad miss from the striker.[LNB]49min: That's a booking for Jermaine Jones after he is caught out of position on the left and decides to wipe out Toure by just running into him.[LNB]48min: The Man City fans are in a joyful mood, as the Wembley chants start up.[LNB]Robinson again punts a free-kick from a ridiculous half-way line position that City head clear.[LNB]47min: Here come City again! Silva clips an inch perfect ball to the far post and Toure's header is just tipped over by Robinson.[LNB] In a tangle: Toure collides with Jermaine Jones (centre) and Dunn (right)[LNB]Second-half: Benjani and Dunn restart proceedings.[LNB]21.00: Out come the players for the second period, no changes that I can see.[LNB]20.56: From InfostradaLive:[LNB]City have won only one of their last 34 EPL away matches in which they failed to score in the first half.[LNB]20.53: A point hardly helps the causes of either side but I think Rovers will be the happier team at this point. I Still think they will fancy themselves over the teams below them.[LNB]Despite all of Spurs' recent troubles I think City would like a plus-three point gap going into their clash at Eastlands - something they don't have as it stands.[LNB]20.50: I know what you're thinking, 0-0 at Ewood Park is the snore draw.[LNB]Wrong! It's been an interesting game where City dominated early on but Rovers came back as the half wore on.[LNB]Half-time: Blackburn 0-0 Manchester City[LNB]45min: One minute added on and Balotelli slips at the wrong time as he falls to ground in the six-yard-box trying to make contact with a Barry knock-down. [LNB]In fairness it would have been unlikely he would have reached it and Samba puts the ball out for a corner.[LNB]44min: Johnson has switched to the left wing and it nearly pays dividends as his shot is parried by Robinson, and it only just evades Balotelli who would have had a certain tap-in.[LNB]43min: Head tennis at its finest! City clear the corner but a rally of nearly five headers from both sides ends with Samba smashing a volley into the City defence before the visitors eventually clear.[LNB] Under control: Salgado (left) clears Yaya Toure's (right) shot[LNB]41min: Very unlucky! Samba rises above Aleksandar Kolarov and Barry to head a deep Salgado ball just wide of the post. Joe Hart wasn't getting that and Mancini will be concerned in how easily his defence was beaten there.[LNB]39min: After a spell of Blackburn pressure, City respond with a corner of their own that ends with Balotelli's powerful effort being blocked by Gael Givet and Robinson picking up the pieces.[LNB]37min: That is a good chance. Brett Emerton curls a lovely ball to the far post but it's just too high for Benjani who can only guide it comfortably wide, he had the time to position himself better for that.[LNB]35min: Lovely, lovely football from Blackburn. Phil Jones starts a run in the centre and after running down the left he plays a clever one-two that takes him into the box before winning a corner. Chris Samba heads the chance behind but this is better from the hosts.[LNB]33min: A sad sight of sorts, as a poker-face Roque Santa Cruz sits in the stand. He has not been anything like the player he was when he left Blackburn to join City and he has yet to score in his loan spell at Ewood Park.[LNB]31min: Like Dunn's foul it gives away a free-kick 25 yards out, and like Balotelli's effort, the keeper takes comfortably.[LNB]30min: Here is our first booking after Barry wipes out Olsson with a bodycheck not too different from Dunn's in the seventh minute.[LNB] Dunn for: Manchester City's David Silva (left) finds himself pushed off the ball[LNB]27min: It's a shame Blackburn do play the long ball too much because when they try and play the ball on the surface they can zip a few neat passes together. Martin Olsson's pace really does give them options when he charges forward.[LNB]24min: Credit to Rovers, they are defending much better now and it's much like the side I saw that battled well to a draw at Arsenal. City are going to have to find a plan B here.[LNB]Having said that though, the home side have had zero attempts on goal.[LNB]21min: Jason Roberts needs to work on his diving skills. Vincent Kompany does catch him in the box, but it is not enough to make the striker go down naturally and instead his theatrical tumble to ground really isn't fooling anyone. The barmy thing is under FIFA rules that's a stonewall penalty.[LNB]19min: Credit to Yaya Toure here, Phil Jones appears to catch him with a wayward arm but he doesn't go down crying like a big baby, although he does show a touch of petulance by shoving the defender to the ground after Robinson collects the loose ball. This battle could develop.[LNB]17min: Top defending from Michel Salgado, who clears Barry's header off the line from a corner. Seconds later Adam Johnson hits a first time effort over the bar from the edge of the box.[LNB]16min: Still City hogging all the ball though and you sense there will be a goal sooner or later, and I can't see it coming from a Rovers counter.[LNB]13min: Nothing comes of it but at least the hopes have started to contain City a bit more. They looked very lost early on.[LNB] Spanish duel: Blackburn's Michel Salgado (left) and Manchester City's David Silva tussle for the ball[LNB]12min: I love this tactic. Rovers win a free-kick 75 yards out and it's Paul Robinson about to launch an aerial bombardment into the City penalty box.[LNB]9min: ...About 30 seconds, Robinson's punt is straight at the City backline and the visitors retain the ball and attack again.[LNB]The home fans are getting a bit restless and I don't blame them. I haven't seen a home Premier League side get battered like this for a long, long time.[LNB]8min: Neat enough from Balotelli, but his shot from the free-kick is confidently saved by Paul Robinson. Rovers have the ball but how long for?[LNB]6min: That is frustration. David Dunn clearly has had enough of City possession and decides to just charge into Balotelli 25-yards out. Silly free-kick to give way but a chance for City.[LNB]5min: It is all City and they are doing well by spreading the ball to both flanks. Rovers looking stretched across the back and Adam Johnson is looking useful on the right flank.[LNB]3min: City are flying already, David Silva takes advantage of team mate Gareth Barry's poor control by firing a volley against the post. Damn unlucky.[LNB]Kick-off: Balotelli and David Silva get us under way.[LNB]19.58: Teams are out, big chance for Rovers to improve their credible home record and for City to win their first away game of 2011.[LNB]19.55: While Mancini has admitted he wants a carbon copy of the Manchester United game. Whether that includes the post-match stuff at Wembley I am not too sure.[LNB]19.53: Steve Kean pre-match has pretty much said his team like playing good football but tonight he will will try and win at all costs.[LNB]To me and you, that has long ball written all over it.[LNB]19.49: Don't know about you folks, but I am focused on Balotelli tonight. He has parked himself into a bit of a mess recently but it's about time we saw him deliver a few goals on the pitch.[LNB]19.45: Slightly overcast evening at Ewood Park but the ground is filling up nicely. Hopefully a good atmosphere will lead to a fine game.[LNB]19.41: It normally produces goals this fixture and for Rovers fans looking for hope (and entertainment) then September 2006 is your omen. Rovers ran out 4-2 winners that day with one of the goal scorers Morten Gamst Pedersen on the bench tonight. [LNB] Four-midable: Blackburn players crowd around goal scorer Morten Gamst Pedersen (centre) after Rovers' 4-2 win over City in September 2006[LNB]19.38: Just one defeat at Ewood Park in 2011 to Spurs means Rovers are going good at home though and this isn't going to be as easy as City may think.[LNB]19.35: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini names an unchanged side for this Barclays Premier League match against Blackburn at Ewood Park.[LNB]With Carlos Tevez still sidelined because of a hamstring injury Mario Balotelli retains his place up front following the FA Cup semi-final victory over Manchester United.[LNB]Edin Dzeko, a ?27million signing from Wolfsburg in the January transfer window, again has to settle for a place on the bench.[LNB]Blackburn, meanwhile, were hoping to end a run of nine league games without a win and make two changes with strikers Jason Roberts and Benjani Mwaruwari recalled to the team.[LNB]19.30: Full team news:[LNB]Blackburn v Man CityBlackburn: Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Phil Jones, Givet, Emerton, Dunn, Jermaine Jones, Olsson, Mwaruwari, Roberts. Subs: Bunn, Kalinic, Formica, Pedersen, Rochina, Hanley, Diouf.Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, De Jong, Barry, Adam Johnson, Toure Yaya, Silva, Balotelli. Subs: Taylor, Milner, Wright-Phillips, Dzeko, Vieira, Jo, Boyata.Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)[LNB]19.26: No such luxuries for Steve Kean who hasn't had a great time of it at Ewood Park. He has not won any of his last 10 matches and Rovers find themselves just a point above the bottom three.[LNB]Not a disaster of they lose tonight, but it certainly would help settle a few nerves if they win.[LNB]19.23: Nothing can be decided tonight of course but if Manchester City win they would be nailed on favourites to land that final Champions League spot. It would put them four points clear of Tottenham in fifth and looking at the two side's run-in, I'd much rather be in Roberto Mancini's shoes...and not because his are probably made by a trendy designer.[LNB]19.20: Hope you all caught today's Football League action too, some stunning games there and I hope it sets the omen for tonight. Save the best till last I suppose.[LNB]19.16: Sportsmail's Ian Ladyman on twitter:[LNB]mcfc semi final team plays again tonight.[LNB]19.15: So the magic 'four day weekend' is coming to an end and seemingly for once it hasn't been ruined by constant downpours.[LNB]Those of you faced with the dreaded thought of returning to work tomorrow though, fear not as I have the perfect tonic for you...Blackburn v Manchester City![LNB]Ok it's not exactly a huge grudge match but there is plenty to play for, with those fighting for survival and those chasing a Champions League place keeping a keen eye on this fixture. Team news on the way.[LNB] Happy times ahead: City striker Mario Balotelli will aim to help his side build on their FA Cup semi-final win[LNB] De Jong: City will finish strong and earn Champions League spotCity concerned Tevez will seek Eastlands exit amid interest from ItalyAll the latest Blackburn news, features and opinionAll the latest Manchester City news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Roberto Mancini, Edin Dzeko, Adam Johnson, Jermaine Jones, Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli, Jason Roberts, David Silva, Gareth Barry, Paul Robinson, David Dunn, Vincent Kompany Organisations: Football League
